As of September 20 this year, the total number of H7N9 cases worldwide has reached 1,589. Of this number, 616 were fatal, and all deaths occurred in China. Other strains of the H5 and H7 influenza viruses have been reported across the world.

Although Thailand has not reported a single confirmed case of avian flu in humans since 2006 or in birds since 2008, a number of bird deaths have been discovered.